Former heatset printer Peter Clark is up for a challenge in a new role as president of Australia’s Print & Visual Communication Association.

The employers’ group – previously known as Printing Industries (PIAA) – reported falling membership – down by more than a fifth to 573 – and a $583,000 loss in its 2020 annual report.

Walter Kuhn has stepped down to vice president, with South Australian printer Peter Lane returning to the board and Kwik Kopy Circular Quay director Nick Tuit joining it.

John Georgantzakos, managing director of web printer Spotpress, and Stuart Fysh continue as honorary treasurer and secretary respectively, with Tom Eckersley, Kevin Pidgeon and Martin Guilliamse also elected to the board.

Peter Clark, who now lives in Tasmania, began his print career as a litho platemaking apprentice at Cox & Kay, moving to News Limited-owned Progress Press, and later setting up AIW Printing with a group of partners in 2000.

As the over-serviced heatset industry rationalised in 2016, Ive Group bought AIW and Melbourne rival Franklin Web for $116 million.

Clark is a director and trustee of Media Super, and on the board of national trade show PacPrint. His newspaper involvement has included serving as a technical judge on the Newspaper of the Year competition, while packaging experience includes spells with Visyboard and Pratt Industries.